Whats with the Sonic channels

Why should D* give all of the music channels to every subscriber? If you want more music channels then get a better package. Why should someone paying $30 per month get the same music channels I get in the package I pay about $130 per month for?

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Why not? Some cable providers already do so. The music channels are certainly not a bandwidth problem nor much of a financial drain to DirecTV.

Incidentally my DirecTV package is somewhere between that $30 and $130 per month.

What I'd really like to do is pick eight or so of the music channels -- my choice -- and forget all the others. Pretty sure that won't happen, which is why I'm suggesting all.

My concept is even more simple. Give all subscribers all the music channels. I certainly don't want to pay $50 more each month just to get the Holiday music channel.

Let's see if Sonic Tap comes up with three Christmas music channels this December...

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THat's what I'm hoping for as well. If those holiday channels aren't offered by Sonic, that's when I'd miss XM on DTV. I liked the choices that XM offered with the Christmas music, pop, traditional, and classical.

These channels do not even show up in my guide. So we pay for these channels but D* saved a few $$$ by installing SL3 instead of SL5?

This would all be D* fault, as the installer does what it on his workorder, which from what I understand the "equipment" is picked from a program that D* uses based on what you ordered.....well does my package include these channels or not?

About 27 of the music channels give me the message. None say "searching." I've got Total Choice grandfathered, whatever that means. Three phone calls to DirecTV failed to get me a list of what should be included in that old package, which of course is pre-Sonic Tap. I also understand why DirecTV got rid of the name "Total Choice" since total is misleading.

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DirecTV doesn't even have to offer "grandfathered" packages. They could just announce their new packages/pricing and convert existing packages to the similar equivalent. But they don't. However, they CAN do things to "nudge" people to upgrade like not letting you change your premiums online or not including new channels. Or they might even discontinue channels every now and then.

They also like to nudge people into upgrading their equipment to a leased box (and getting a new 2 year commitment). I still have an old legacy Hughes receiver on my account which uses the old program guide. Guess what? Know all those new Sonic Tap channels that were added (Familiar Favorites, Rat Pack, Classic Rock Workout, etc.)? Well, they don't appear on my Hughes receiver even though it gets the 101, 110, and 119 satellite. I called to inquire and was told I could upgrade for $50 and a two year commitment extension. No thank you but I don't complain about it.

I recently had a Slimline 5 replaced with a Slimline 3, as I (as well as others in my area) were having reception issues with the Slimline 5.

I noticed the missing Sonic Tap channels...the only one that I might pine for at some point, might be 850 (Jazz). Otherwise, I'd rather sacrifice (at least for now) a few music channels that I don't really listen to, so that my HD channels come through without issue.

If you are getting "searching for satellite" while listening to any of these channels, you are having a problem getting an adequate signal from the 119 satellite. It has nothing to do with Sonic Tap and if you tried to watch any of the Spanish channels also sent over the 119, they would be intermittant also.

Strange!!!! Some of them I get fine, others I get Searching, and some don't even appear on my guide... I wish D* would get their act together.... For what I'm paying monthly, I would expect a LOT more.... Maybe Dish is the answer

Strange!!!! Some of them I get fine, others I get Searching, and some don't even appear on my guide... I wish D* would get their act together.... For what I'm paying monthly, I would expect a LOT more.... Maybe Dish is the answer

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When you ran your system test (I am assuming {hoping} you ran a system test before coming here to complain) what were the results? Are your signal strengths OK? When you checked D*'s website, do the Sonic channels listed for your package match what you are getting?